Profitability Analysis and Constraints to Pepper (Capsicum Sp) Marketing in Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the profitability and constraints to pepper marketing in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 75 pepper marketers from the list of registered pepper marketers with the pepper marketing association in the study area. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the required information. Descriptive statistics, Net profit and mean score were used to analyze the data collected. Results showed that the mean age of pepper marketers was 34 years and majority, (60%) of the marketers were married, well experience in marketing with a mean household size of 12 persons. Also, Atarodo (Capsicum annum) was the most common varieties of pepper which are marketed fresh in the area. The net return on pepper marketing in the study area was N1.05 which is an indication of profitability of the business. The study further revealed high cost of transportation (mean score= 2.92), lack of storage facilities (mean score= 2.80) and lack of processing facilities (mean score= 2.72) as the major problems facing pepper marketing enterprise in the area. The study recommends government should provide good feeder roads network to ease transportation of perishable agricultural produce like pepper in the area, storage and processing facilities should be made adequate to enhance marketing.